Most efficient primary damage spell for wand user

[ILM]

Assuming an Artificer 20 (or 18/ Chameleon 2? Still kind of on the fence) who fights with wands.
Assuming he's loaded with metamagic and not afraid to use it: Twin, Repeating, Split Ray, Empower, Fell Drain.
Assuming all the above stack (so a 4d6 ray with all the above would deal 48d6 and 8 negative levels over 2 rounds).
What would be the most cost-efficient spell to craft wands with and burn charges like there's no tomorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L6QtigLJD_4)?

According to some number-crunching I've done, Seeking Ray is better than Scorching Ray (3 rays) and both the Orbs and Lesser Orbs (mostly due to the fact you can't split ray the orbs). Any other spell I should check out?

edit: damn, sorry, this should be in the 3.5e section. My bad. :smallredface:

[Anderlith]

When in doubt, MAGIC MISSLE!

[Keld Denar]

Enervation is the other big winner over Seeking Ray. Its WAY more expensive, but its effects are much more dramatic. Split Empowered Enervation is 2-12 negative levels. On the top end, thats pretty brutal for anyone to be subjected to.

Its not really CL dependant, and has no save.

Another fun one is Whirling Blade. Since the damage on WB is entirely dependant on the weapon, you can shananananananananananananananigan it up pretty heavily. You are an Artificer, make a +1 Wounding Collision Holy Illusion Theft whatever Dagger of Doom. Burn an infusion to apply whatever applicable Bane is appropriate at the moment. Use a Wand of WB with a Metamagic Wand Grip of Twin Spell while Metamagic Spell Triggering Empower Spell (that works, right? Since weapon damage is variable?).

Whirling Blade is completely CL independant (no SR, no CL dependant effects) and has no save.

[gbprime]

Splinterbolt is useful if you're not facing too much damage reduction. Druid 2, Spell Compendium. You get 1 to 3 streams of quills (same levels as scorching ray) that deal 4d6 magic piercing damage each. It also crits on an 18-20.

[dextercorvia]

Enervation is the other big winner over Seeking Ray. Its WAY more expensive, but its effects are much more dramatic. Split Empowered Enervation is 2-12 negative levels. On the top end, thats pretty brutal for anyone to be subjected to.

Its not really CL dependant, and has no save.

Another fun one is Whirling Blade. Since the damage on WB is entirely dependant on the weapon, you can shananananananananananananananigan it up pretty heavily. You are an Artificer, make a +1 Wounding Collision Holy Illusion Theft whatever Dagger of Doom. Burn an infusion to apply whatever applicable Bane is appropriate at the moment. Use a Wand of WB with a Metamagic Wand Grip of Twin Spell while Metamagic Spell Triggering Empower Spell (that works, right? Since weapon damage is variable?).

Whirling Blade is completely CL independant (no SR, no CL dependant effects) and has no save.


You will want to Shape Whirling Blade, but Empower doesn't work, since the weapon damage isn't a spell effect.

[Anderlith]

Darkbolt, stuns plus damage

[NNescio]

Splinterbolt is useful if you're not facing too much damage reduction. Druid 2, Spell Compendium. You get 1 to 3 streams of quills (same levels as scorching ray) that deal 4d6 magic piercing damage each. It also crits on an 18-20.

It's also not a ranged touch attack, which could be an issue.

[gbprime]

It's also not a ranged touch attack, which could be an issue.

Well the OP did say he likes Seeking Ray. That makes a regular ranged attack afterward less of an issue. :smallwink: